Pivotal stacking hair curler



July l2, 1966 D. G. RUBENSTEIN r-:TAL 3,260,267

PIVOTAL STACKING HAIR CURLER Filed oct. e, 1962 LENA 5. HOFFMAN GPAcs K. Goan/VAN United States Patent 3,260,267 PIVOTAL STACKIN G HAIR CURLER Dina G. Rubenstein, 18610 Mendota Ave., Detroit 21,

Mich., Lena B. Hoffman and Grace K. Goodman, De-

troit, Mich.; said Goodman and said Hoffman assignors to said Rubenstein Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 229,019 2 Claims, (Cl. 132-40) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in hair curlers and more particularly to a hair curler which is split along the entire horizontal axis thereof, while having a pivotal means opposite thereto, so as to provide a hair curler of maximum utility which can be stacked and stored in a minimum of space when not in use.

While a hair curler in and of itself is not a new device, the hair curler of the present invention provides a new concept in hair curling heretofore not possible to obtain with any hair curler known.

Since hair curling is usually done while the hair is moist, considerable time is required to dry the hair, even when artificial drying means are used. The hair curlers which are now available are ventilated, however, l because of their construction they must be axially displaced during their removal, thereby causing the hair rolled thereon to pass over and snag on the Ventilating passages, which action causes a splitting and cracking of the inside layer of hair. This does not occur with the hair curler of the present invention.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a hair curler which is simple, durable `and inexpensive, the use of which provides maximum curling eiiiciency while iniiicting a minimum of discomfort -to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hair curler which can be readily removed from the curl and stacked in a relatively small space when not in use.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hair curler which provides adequate Ventilation for drying of the hair rolled thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hair curler which is Icompletely sanitary and can be washed in warm water should the need arise.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hair curler which is light in weight and which forms springier, smooher, more natural looking curls that last. v y

The above and other objects can be obtained by the provision of light-weight pivotal hair curler of generally hollow configuration with a plurality of axial serrations on the outer surface thereof, with radial passages at the botto-m of said serrations to provide ventilation of the central hollow portion thereof; a separation along the entire horizontal `axis thereof; a hinge member immediately opposite thereto; a plurality of circumferentially disposed tapered teeth having rounded end portions on opposed edges of said horizontal separation, which teeth are adapted to mesh; said tapered circumferential teeth holding the ends of a plurality of strands of hair therebetween, while the remaining portion of the hair strands are rolled on the outside of said hollow member and held by any suitable clip means.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is an elevational View of the present invention, with a plurality of strands of hair rolled thereon.

ICC

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the device shown in FIG- URE l, with the hinge portion exposed.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional View taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6` shows the hair curler of the present invention in the open position, for stacking.

FIGURE 7 is a modiiied form of the present invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in he accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.

Looking now at the drawings, FIGURE l illustrates an elevational view of a hollow, two part cylindrical hair curler assembly, which embodies the present invention 10. A plurality of strands of hair 12 are shown rolled therearound for curling. The ends of the various strands of hair 12 are frictionally engaged between the circumferential toothed portions 16 and 17 of the semi-circular sections 14 and 15 respectively. The hair 12 rolled on the outside of the cylindrical curler assembly 10 is held in curling position with a bobby pin 18, curler clip or the like.

The two semi-circular sections 14 and 15 are pivotally joined with a pair of hinge pins 22 and 24. Each of the hinge pins 22 and 24 extends through a pair of inwardly extending flanges as shown in both FIGURES 2 and 4. Hinge pin 22 extends through a plurality of aligned openings in ilanges 26 and 28 andalso through the aligned openings in flanges 32 and 34. The outermost flanges 26 and 34 respectively are located on semi-circular section 14, while the remaining flanges 28 and 32 are on semicircular section 15. It will be noted in FIGURE 2 that the central portion 40 of the hinge section is generally symmetrical in configuration. This general overall configuration is for the purpose of supplying support for the hair 12 to be rolled therearound during curling. Although this is one method of accomplishing the above, it must be understood that other configurations of the central portion of the hinge could be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will also be noted in FIGURE 2 that the semi-circular sections 14 and 15 of the curler 10 have a plurality of ventilation openings 42 and 44 therein, which ncidently were not shown in FIGURE l, for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 3 of the drawings illustrates a unitary, split and stack -curler 50. As will be noted in FIGURE 5, the curler 50 is generally hollow and has a plurality of axial Ventilating grooves or depressions 52, which have a plurality of openings 54 therein. Although the openings 54 are shown as slots, they could of course be round, square or any other shape, since they merely provide ventilation. The hinge portion 60 of the curler 50, which is integral with both curved sections is formed by providing an area 64 of reduced thickness on the inner surface 62 thereof, immediately opposite to the split 66. Therefore, when the curler of the present invention 10 is made from a tough, pliable material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like, the hinge formed as above described will not require any further assembly, while providing a more utilitarian, but less costly construction. A magnetic rubber bead 68 is provided on each of the edges 65 and 67 of the split 66, to better engage the various strands of hair ends which will be located therebetween during the curling of the hair 12. While the engaging edges of the magnetic rubber bead are shown flat, they could of course be formed of many other congurations and still accomplish the desired results. FIG- URE 6 of the drawings shows a hinged curler 70 in the open position, ready for stacking. Tapered teeth 76 and 77 are provided in generally tangential relationship to the inner surfaces 78 and 79 thereof.

FIGURE 7 shows a hinged cylindrical hair curler 80 of modified construction, wherein the hinge portion 82 is formed in the same manner as was hinge 60. The split 84 in the curler 80 extends axially of the cylinder and tangentially outward from the inner surface 86 thereof. An undercut groove 88 is provided in the central portion of the outer surface of the cylinder for receiving a generally circumferential resilient member 89. This resilient member 89 is installed prior to usage of the curler and removed when it is desired to stack the open curlers,

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that the above invention is simple, durable and inexpensive. It is light weight, as well as sanitary and can be stacked for storage, to conserve space. When usedit will form springier, smoother and more natural curls which last, without danger of cracking or splitting the`hair ends.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a plastic hair curler, the combination of,

a generally hollow cylindrical member parted along the full length thereof;

a plurality of wedge shaped teeth circumferentially located in meshing engagement along each of the parted edges;

an area of reduced dimension opposite the parted edges,

thereby forming an axial pivot in a unitary construction;

said wedge shaped teeth adapted to receive hair therebetween, the ends of a number of strands of hair, and means for clamping the strands of hair to said cylindrical member when rolled on the outside of said cylindrical member to form a curl on each of the strands, said curlers adapted to be opened and stacked with similar curlers when not in use to conserve space.

2. In a hair curler, the combination of,

a generally cylindrical member with a single split which extends along the entire length thereof;

pivotal means opposite said split and extending along the entire length thereof;

a plurality of meshing teeth circumferentially disposed on the opposed edges of said member adjacent said split;

saidmeshing teeth adapted to engage the ends of a number of strands of hair, and means to clamp the remaining hair when rolled around the outside of said cylindrical member;

said curlers adapted to be opened and stacked with like curlers when not in use to conserve space.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,538 10/1879 Law 132-46 X 565,698 8/1896 Sparks 285-419 1,334,719 3/1920 Szlanyi 132-362 2,962,031 11/ 1960 Bumgarner 132-39 3,099,990 8/ 1963 Chalfln et al 132-39 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,240,073 7/ 1960 France.

828,302 2/ 1960 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN A HAIR CURLER, THE COMBINATION OF, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBER WITH A SINGLE SPLIT WHICH EXTENDS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF; PIVOTAL MEANS OPPOSITE SAID SPLIT EXTENDING ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF; A PLURALITY OF MESHING TEETH CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID MEMBER ADJACENT SAID SPLIT; SAID MESHING TEETH ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE ENDS OF SAID NUMBER OF STRANDS OF HAIR, AND MEANS TO CLAMP THE REMAINING HAIR WHEN ROLLED AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER; SAID CURLERS ADAPTED TO BE OPENED AND STACKED WITH LIKE CURLERS WHEN NOT IN USE TO CONSERVE SPACE. 